Laws of Matriarch

Gitxsan Traditions: Accountability and Justice As a Gitxsan grandmother, I want to share the wisdom of our ancestors and how our traditional practices reflect our values of accountability, honesty, and respect for all spirits.  In the past, our Gitxsan community was very strict about upholding these values. Serious crimes, particularly violence against women and children, were dealt with during the Potlatch, our sacred feast. For the gravest offenses, such as violence against our most vulnerable, the offender would be 'brought hunting'—a euphemism for receiving the death sentence. In these cases, a feast would be held, and the offender's family, house, and tribe would compensate the victims' family, house, and tribe for the harm done. For lesser crimes, we held a Shame Feast. During this gathering, the offender would publicly announce their mistakes and explain how they planned to make amends to the victims and their families, under the guidance of our chiefs. Once the ...

Today, I was on the bus and noticed a grandmother sitting with her grandson. She was speaking to him a bit sternly, telling him to sit forward and not face the back of the bus. When he asked her why, she replied, “I don’t have to tell you anything. I don’t need to explain.” The boy looked about seven years old. He listened to her and obediently took the seat that faced forward. As I watched, I felt a connection to what she was saying. She corrected him again when he started to gaze down at the ground, reminding him to keep his eyes up so he could see his surroundings. I understood why this was important to her.  It’s the same way I feel when I walk around during the day; I don’t feel safe looking down or sitting backwards. I always keep my head up to be aware of what’s happening around me. It feels like a way to protect myself, to avoid being caught off guard. I remember how angry I would get when I was on the bus with my kids when they were little. I didn’t realize then that my an...

Well, my plan was to make a cake and rest in bed to get better. 💤  Then, my van’s low tire light came on 🤛🏽💥😳. I went to put air in the tire, not thinking much of it, but the light didn’t turn off. I dropped the baby off at daycare and then went to see Dodge for some help. That’s when I noticed the nail in my tire 😆. The mansplaining started, and I was like, “Yeah, that’s probably it.” I took a moment to watch the eclipse without really looking, then headed to the doctor to make sure I just had the flu. Yep, it was confirmed. After that, I went home to put the cake in the oven—ahhh, sweet comfort. I called my mom to strategize my plan. But it felt like God had other ideas for me that day. Rest was nowhere on my agenda. I ended up having a leak in my tire that needed to be changed today. Later on, I realized there was a screw sticking out of my tire, and that’s probably where the leak was coming from lol 🤓😂. With no money for a new tire, I had to see who could help me out. W...

How are First Nations children supposed to get coverage for health and medical needs?  My grandson is facing a tough situation—he will be without medical coverage for 6 to 10 months!  Just the other day, I was stuck at the dentist's office because his medical coverage was declined. Thankfully, after his cleaning, the dental office discovered he had a credit on his account, so they let us leave without paying. I’m so grateful for that because I don’t have any money to cover unexpected medical expenses.  Unfortunately, VACFSS cut my grandson’s medical coverage, leaving us in a difficult position. I recently received an order for Section 54.01 on June 28th, but I still haven’t gotten a court order—draft or signed. It usually takes 6 to 10 months to receive a signed order. For over two years now, VACFSS has failed to obtain my grandson's Indian Status Card, which makes his MSP useless. Without that status card, we can’t access proper medical coverage.  What frustrates...

I'm sitting at the dentist with my grandson, Angel, and I just found out that our Blue Cross coverage has been canceled! Without his Indian status card, his MSP doesn’t work. I don’t have his court order, so I can’t add him to my work coverage.  Right now, the dentist is asking for payment, and I have no money to give. It feels overwhelming. Is this really the first child to go through the Section 54.01 process? Why do we have to keep facing these kinds of issues? Here I am, stuck at the dentist, waiting for a call from Claudia or Andy. Will they even call me?  These moments are filled with worry, and it’s hard not to feel the weight of it all. But even in this frustration, I hold onto hope. We must keep advocating for our rights and the rights of our children. We deserve better access to healthcare and support.  I believe that together we can push for change. Our voices matter, and we must stand strong for our families. #MissingWork #WorkingPoor #NoDentalCoverage

Merriam-Webster defines "bear witness" as:   1. To show that something exists or is.   2. Formal: To make a statement saying that one saw or knows something. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in Aboriginal History Month this June. Your involvement shows a true commitment to engaging in our process of truth and reconciliation. We touched on many important topics—Aboriginal women, Sacred Land, and the Missing Children from Indian Residential Schools. These discussions are crucial as they reflect the depth of our history and the ongoing challenges we face. As we emerge from a holiday weekend celebrating the things we love about Canada, I ask that we not forget the realities that continue to impact us: the harmful effects of the Indian Act, the severe poverty that plagues many Indian reservations, the heartbreaking issue of murdered and missing women, and the support needed for Indigenous survivors of Indian Residential Schools. We must also advo...

My grandson is now 23 months and 21 days old. For his first year of life, he was in foster care, and it was a painful experience for our family. I fought hard to bring him home and finally managed to get him out under a Temporary Custody Order. Yesterday, I received a call from Claudia L at VACFSS. She shared some good news: I’ve completed the application under Section 54.01, and it has been approved. This means I will be his primary guardian under the Family Law Act, which brings me a sense of relief and hope. However, VACFSS plans to ask for an adjournment tomorrow, June 7th, for three weeks, so they have time to put the order together. I’m uncertain about what will be included in this order, but I remain hopeful that it will mark the end of this long, arduous, and oppressive process that has weighed heavily on my heart. I hope that sharing my updates helps other grandparents who are going through similar struggles. I truly wish for this to be my last update. We deserve a chance to ...